Web supply mechanism



Dec. 20, 1938. o. SCHWARZ WEB SUPPLY MECHANI SM Filed May 6, 1956 2 Sheets sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1938. o. SCHWARZ 2,140,557

WEB SUPPLY MECHANI SM Filed May 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM of New York Application May 6, 1936, Serial No. 78,137

18 Claims.

This invention relates to web supply mechanisms for machines adapted to operate upon a web, and more particularly to such mechanism wherein means is provided for maintaining a substantially constant braking action upon the web roll from which a web running into the machine is being drawn.

It is customary in a web supply mechanism to provide means to support a plurality of web rolls and to actuate this means to dispose a replacement web roll into position to have its Web joined to the running web from an expiring web roll. In disposing the replacement web roll and the expiring web roll in position preparatory to joining the webs thereof, it is desirable that the replacement web roll be brought to the speed substan-- tially equal to the expiring web roll before the joint is made and means is generally provided for this purpose, which means in some instances continues in operation to act as a roll retarding or braking means to maintain the web under proper tension after the join is made. This invention contemplates as one of its objects the use of this means, through novel instrumentalities, to maintain a retarding effect upon the expiring web roll before the join is made and thereby to maintain the web running therefrom taut without the necessity of separately actuated mechanism.

Another object is to provide means to control the expiring web roll through the replacement web roll by its driving means.

Still another object is to provide in a web supply mechanism, means to drive a replacement web roll, and means drivingly engageable with this roll, and which is adapted to engage the expiring web roll, whereby the latter is controlled by the rotation of the former.

' A still further object is to provide in a web supply mechanism means to drivingly connect a replacement web roll with an expiring web roll, both of which are mounted upon a rotatable support, which means is adapted to drivingly engage the respective rolls as they are being moved by said support and maintain such engagement until after the webs thereof are joined together.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a web supply mechanism of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the

5 invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an end elevational view of a web supply mechanism embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the principal operative parts of the mechanism and illustrating the operation thereof; and

Figure 3 is a partial front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1, looking in the direction of arrow 3, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness.

The features of this invention are particularly adapted for embodiment in a web supply mechanism of the type and design fully illustrated and described in copending applications Serial Number 33,814, filed July 30, 1935, now Patent Number 2,090,296 of August 17, 1937 and Serial Number 56,883, filed December 31, 1935, but may be advantageously used with other types of web supply mechanisms. Herein they are shown in combination with associated parts of the structures shown in the above applications and reference is hereby made to said applications for detail description of the structure and operation of the replacement web roll driving and speed control means and its actuation to control the web tension, and of the web joining mechanism including the web pressing means or brush and the web severing knife.

The web supply mechanism illustrated in the drawings includes a web roll supporting reel l I to the shaft l2 of which is drivingly connected a gear l3 which through gears l4, l5 and I6 is driv ingly connected to a motor I! by which the reel H may be rotated to dispose a replacement web roll l8 and an expiring web roll I 9 in various operative positions. Normally the web 2| leading into the machine over suitable guide rollers 22 and 23 is running from the roll l8, as indicated by dotted lines 24, the pull upon the web by mechanism, forming a part of the machine, rotating the roll IS. The rotation of the roll l8 during normal operation is controlled by a belt 25 which is in engagement therewith and is driven by the pulley 26 about which it is led. The pulley 26 is driven through gears 21 and 28'by a shaft 29 from a convenient driven part of the machine. Other pulleys 3| and 32, the latter being mounted on the end of a swingable arm 33, are provided over which the belt 25 is led. The arm 33 is adapted to be raised and lowered, in some instances autodotted lines in Figure 1. Mechanism not shown but fully described in the above mentioned applications is provided' to actuate the arms to cause the brush 36 to press the web 38 of the expiring web roll I! against the replacement roll ID tojoin the webs and to actuate the web severing knife in the holder- 31 to sever the expiring web without interference with the machine operation.

The rotative speed of the belt 25 is maintained slightly less than the speed of the machine and a tension is thus imposed upon the web to hold it taut. When the reel H is rotated to dispose a replacement web roll in position, the roll from which the web is running is moved out from engagement with the belt 25 and from its control. To then insure the maintenance of proper web tension'there is herein provided means drivingly connecting the replacement web roll with the expiring web roll. By this means the effect of 'the belt 25 on the replacement web roll will be transmitted to the expiring web roll to continue and maintain the proper and desired web tension, it being understood that as the replacement web roll is being disposed in operative position the belt 25 is adapted to engage the same substantially as soon as the expiring web roll is moved out of engagement therewith.

As herein shown, the means todrivingly connect the replacement web roll with the expiring web roll includes a strap or belt 4| led about pulleys 42 and 43 (Figure 3), and a strap or belt 44 led about pulleys 45 and 46. The pulleys 43 and 45 are each keyed to a shaft 41, which is journaled in and extends between arms 48, 49 and 50 secured to, and extending from, a sleeve-like shell freely mounted upon the reel shaft 2 for support. The shell or sleeve 5| preferably extends from an intermediate portion of the reel to the end of the reel frames 53, so the belt 44 may engage the same portion of the roll l8 that is engaged by the belt 25. Means is provided herein, in the form of a semi-disc-like weight 54, secured to the end 55 of the sleeve 5| adjacent the reel frames 53 to constantly urge the sleeve 5| to rotate about the shaft l2 to cause the belt 4| to engage the web roll l8, which is in operative position or the replacement web roll being positioned by rotation of the reel The pulley 42 is supported on a shaft 55 journaled in, and extending between, arms 51 and 58, one end of each of which is freely mounted upon the shaft 41. A spring 59, coiled about the shaft 41 and having one end in engagement with the arm 58 and is other end in engagement with the arm 49, constantly urges the arms to swing, whereby the belt 4| swings toward and into engagement with the web roll which is in operative position, or the replacement roll being positioned. The pulley 45 is supported upon a shaft 6| extending from the outer end of the arm 63, the other end of whichis freely mounted upon the shaft 41. The arm 63 is constantly urged, and the belt 44 is swung toward and into' engagement with the expiring web roll by a semi-disc-like weight 64 freely mounted upon the sleeve 5|. The arm 63 is engaged by the weight 64 through a lug 66 formed on the arm 63 and slidably disposed in a groove 31 formed in a lug 65 extending from the weight 64.

By the provision of the abovedescribed driving connection between the web rolls l8 and IS, the desired tension is maintained upon the web running from the roll l9, when the same has been disposed in pre-web join position by rotation of the reel due to the belt 25 driving the roll l8 and, through it and the belts 1!, and 44, controlllng'the rotation of the roll l9. Ihe positions of the several parts during this operation are indicated in full lines in Figure 1. After the web joining mechanism has been actuated to join the web from the expiring roll to the web of the replacement web roll l8 and is severed by the knife, in holder 31, and the arms 34 and 35 are folded back, the roll I9 is'removed from the reel II and the arm 63 and belt 44 swing upwardly into the position shown in dotted lines at 68 in Figure 1.

As the replacement web roll l8 becomes smaller is diameter, due to the removalof the web therefrom, another web roll l8a is being prepared to become the replacement roll. When the roll l8 decreases sufliciently in diameter to require that a new one be substituted in its place, the arms 51 and 58 and the belt 4| may swing past the same,

as indicated in dotted lines, as at 69, in Figure 2,

and engage the new roll now being brought into position by the rotation of the reel II as indicated in full lines in Figure 2. Meanwhile the belt 44 swings into the dotted position shown at 1|, in Figure 2, ready to engage the expiring web roll. Substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the belt 4| with the replacement web roll as it approaches its operative position, the belt 44 engages the expiring web roll, and when the belt 25 is swung downwardly into engagement with the replacement web roll, the expiring web roll is placed under its control.

It will be seen that by the driving connection between the replacement web roll and the expiring web roll aabove described, a drag is applied to the expiring roll and, except during acceleration, to the replacement roll also, whereby the web tension may be maintained substantially constant while the web joining operation is performed and without the necessity of providing auxiliary and separately operable tensioning means.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it'will be further understood that each and every novel feature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable support for a plurality of web rolls adapted to move the rolls successively into operative position, means to rotate one of the rolls, and means connecting this roll with another roll for controlling the rotation of the latter roll from the said one roll.

2. In a web supply mechanism, a support for a plurality of web rolls, means to control the rotation of one of the rolls, and means connecting another roll with the first roll for operably connecting said rotation controlling means to the second roll.

3. In a web supply mechanism, a support for a plurality of rotatable web rolls, one of the rolls being rotatable by the unwinding of the web therefrom, a second roll being driven at a controlled speed, and means connecting the first roll with the second roll to control the rotation of the first roll.

4. In a web supply mechanism, a movable support for a plurality of web rolls from a first one of which a web is being drawn, means to control the rotation of the first roll to maintain the web being drawn therefrom taut, including means connecting the firstroll with a second roll being driven at a controlled speed, and means controlling the rotation of the second roll.

5. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable web roll support, means adapted to drivingly engage a first web roll on said support to rotate the roll, and means connecting the roll on said support with a second rotating web roll supported adjacent the first roll to control the rotation of the second roll from the first.

6. In a web supply mechanism, a web roll support, driven means adapted to engage the periphery of a first web roll on said support to rotate the roll, other means in engagement with the periphery of the first roll on said support to be driven by the rotation thereof, and means driven by the said other means adapted to engage the periphery of a second rotating web roll supported adjacent the first roll to control the rotation of the second rotating roll from the first.

7. In a web supply mechanism, a web roll support adapted to rotatably support a plurality of web rolls, said support being mounted for rotation to move the supported web rolls into ,a plurality of positions, driven means to engage one of the web rolls to rotate the same on said support, other means driven by the rotated roll I while in one position and being swingable to engage another roll when the first roll is moved by said support, and means driven by said other means to engage the first roll when the second roll is engaged by said other means.

8. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, means to rotate said support to dispose each of the supported rolls into a plurality of positions, means to engage and connect two adjacent supported rolls whereby the speed of one is controlled by the other, said means being adapted to disengage from the rolls engaged thereby and to engage, succeeding adjacent rolls to control the speed of one from the other when said support is rotated to dispose the rolls held thereby in another position.

9. In a web supply mechanism, a rotatable support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, means .to rotate said support in one direction, means to connect adjacent rolls on said support whereby the speed of one is controlled by the other, and means constantly tending to bias said connecting means in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said support.

10. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, means to connect one roll with another to control its speed therefrom including a part in engagement with each roll, and means acting separately on each part to constantly urge it in roll engaging direction.

11. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, means to rotate one of the rolls on said support, a second means engaging said rotated roll to be driven thereby, a third means driven by said second means and adapted to engage another roll, and

means to constantly and independently urgeeach of said second and third means against the roll engaged thereby.

12. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, means to rotate one of the rolls on said support, means engaging said rotated roll to be driven thereby, means to constantly urge said roll driven means against said roll, other means driven by said roll driven means to engage a rotating roll on said support to control the rotation thereof, and means to constantly urge said other means against the roll engaged thereby.

13. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, a driven belt adapted to engage and rotate one of the rolls on said support, another of the rolls being mounted on said support to be rotated by the unwinding of the web therefrom, and means to connect the rolls whereby the speed of one will be controlled by the other.

14. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, a driven belt adapted to engage and rotate one of the rolls on said support, another of the rolls being mounted on said support to be rotated by the unwinding of the web therefrom, means driven by the belt driven roll, means to engage the web driven roll, and means todrlvingly connect said last two mentioned means.

15. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, a driven belt adapted to engage and rotate one of the rolls on said support, another of the rolls being mounted on said support to be rotated by the unwinding of the web therefrom, means to engage and be driven by the belt driven roll, means to constantly urge said roll engaging means against the roll, means to engage the web driven roll,-means to constantly urge the means engaging the web driven roll against the same, and means to drivingly connect the means engaging the belt driven roll and the means engaging the web driven roll.

16. In web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, a driven belt adapted to drivingly engage and rotate one of the rolls on said support, a second belt adapted to engage and be driven by the rotation of the driven roll, a third belt in driving engagement with another roll on said support, and means drivingly connecting said second and third belts.

1'7. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, a driven belt adapted to drivingly engage and rotate one of the rolls on said support, a second belt adapted to engage and be driven by the rotation of the driven roll. a third belt in driving engagement with another roll on said support, means drivingly connecting said second and third belts, and means acting on each of said second and third belts to constantly urge the same against the roll engaged thereby.

18. In a web supply mechanism, a support adapted to hold a plurality of web rolls, driven means to rotate one of the rolls on said support, another of said rolls being arranged to be rotated by the unwinding of the web therefrom, a second means driven by the roll rotated by the driven means, a third means adapted to act upon the web driven roll to control the tension of its web, and means to drivingly connect said second and third means.

O'I'I'O SCHWARZ. 

